Heavy Quilt
 

Hi, While I am not trying to be a wuss, I finally finished my nephews All American quilt. Last night I started to put the binding on, the weight of this quilt just knocked me for a loop. The weight wasn't to bad making the quilt top, but once the batting and backing came together, it's heavy! The quilt is almost a double size and trying to sew the binding on, it just gave me great pains in my neck. Any suggestions on how to finish this large quilt without further neck pain? I use one of those cabinets that the leaf extends once you open the cabinet door, I tried putting all the quilt weight on this extension, but it is still so heavy. I dread finishing off my niece's quilt, it's at the long arm quilters now and it's a king size, when she got a new bed last December, I told her I would make a quilt for the new bed, boy am I in trouble.:(

Does it open behind or next to the sewing machine? I have my sewing desk so that it backs up to another craft desk and keep a storage unit to the side (next to both me AND the machine) so that the weight is supported all around the machine. You might need to add a table next to you or the machine or behind the machine. Even if the height is not exactly the same, it will be very helpful.

Thanks, I will add another table tonight and to the left of me to hold some of the weight - it should like something like this [TABLE="width: 115"]
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[TD="class: xl25, width: 64, bgcolor: #ccffcc"]Extension[/TD]
[TD="class: xl24, width: 90, bgcolor: #ccffcc"]Sewing cabinet[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[TD="class: xl26, bgcolor: transparent"]Chair[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl25, bgcolor: #ccffcc"]Table[/TD]
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When I'm binding a quilt I put it on a table and I sit next to the table. I don't have any of it on my lap. I use a banquet table that we have. It helps a lot as now it has gotten warm here.

I lowerd my ironing board (which has a 24x60 top) even with my sewing cabinet and put it on the left side to carry the weight of the quilt while adding the binding, also making sure the quilt did not hang off the ironing board.

Do you have a friend or significant other that can sit to the right and behind you a bit to help support the weight some while you bind? Shouldn't take more than an hour or more tops. I too have used a lowered ironing board with decent results as joyce888 suggested above.

I put a table butting up against the extension on my machine and to the left of me, and then I also have a table very close behind me that can also take the weight of the quilt. I think the cotton batting makes the quilt heavier, and thats why I have switched to the wool batting which I really love. However, when you have a large quilt to do, you certainly have your work cut out for you. Try to plan to have tables or ironing boards to carry the weight. You will really see the difference and your poor body will s..i..n..g :-) Have fun!

My LAQ will machine sew the binding on so all I have to do is hand sew it down (she will also do the hand work, but I don't mind doing that part). It helps a lot that I don't have to maneuver a large quilt to sew on the binding.

I sit in a recliner with the footrest up. Then I have the quilt covering my legs and lap while I bind by hand. During hot weather I sit on the couch with a footstool for my feet and rest most of the quilt on the couch next to me.

What kind of batting did you use? While, yes, larger quilts are heavy just because they have all that mass, I'm amazed at how much heavier a quilt using warm & natural for the batting when compared to the Dream Cotton Select batting (a lightweight batting)